Motivation II: Chapter 10

Reinforcers

select behaviors and increases expression of those behaviors

Punishers

select against behaviors and decreases expression of those behaviors

Incentives

external stimuli that motivate or induce behavior to occur. Influence behavior based on anticipated consequences.

* motivational properties

Incentive Value

attractiveness of an incentive based on objective properties, e.g., number or amount (how attractive it is to you)

Utility

subjective properties of an incentive such as satisfaction. pleasure or usefulness

Fechner's Law

as objective incentive value increases, utility increased in smaller and smaller amounts

e.g., receiving a little bit of money as someone who doesn't have a lot compared to someone who is rich receiving that same little amount

Incentive Delay Interval

time between the current behavior and the availability of a future incentive

e.g., having to wait two weeks between paychecks

Delay Discounting

future incentive is represented today at a lower value. as the incentive delay interval increases, the incentive value decreases for both positive and negative behaviors

formula:

amount of incentive/ (1+delay interval) = incentive value

Explanations for delay discounting

1. Probability of attaining an incentive decreases as the incentive delay interval increases.

2. Hedonic feelings decrease when incentive is farther away.

3. Future incentives allow for more time to make a decision.

e.g., winning the lottery

Preference Reversal

Initially prefer smaller incentive, but as time delay increases, preference switches to the larger incentive.

e.g., receiving $20 now vs $50 in two months

Preference Reversal: Procrastination

Immediate less important incentives are preferred to delated more important incentives

e.g., party this weekend, instead of studying for good course grade

Losses Loom Larger than Gains

losses are more dissatisfying than gains are satisfying

e.g., finding $50 is satisfying when compared to the dissatisfaction of losing $50

Extrinsic Motivation: Incentive amount

objective quantity or number of incentive stimuli

- if incentives are the same, then humans will choose the one that provides the greatest amount of reinforcement

- humans will shift behaviors if a better incentive becomes available

VI: Variable Interval schedule

subjects are reinforced for their initial response after a set time interval, each reinforcement after that time is at a variable interval, with an average mean for the trial.

Intrinsic Motivation

freely chosen, inherent in the activity being performed.

factors:

curiosity - motive for learning about one's environment

effsectance motivation - motive actively interest and controls one's environment. serves to develop competence

flow - desirable state when a persons efforts match the skill requires (challenges must be suffice)

Contrast Effects (positive and negative)

ability of an incentive to motivate depends on prior experience

positive: upward shift in value, increased motivation (pay raise)

negative: downward shift In value, decreased motivation (pay cut)

Deprivation

increases the value and female for the deprived substance (food, video games, etc. )

Probability: differential hypothesis

a high probability response can reinforce a low probability response, but a low probability response cannot reinforce a high probability response

- conditions can reinforce low prob behavior (kids playing outside and their reward is screen time)

Cognitive Evaluation Theory

adding extrinsic motivation to an intrinsically motivated behavior decreases intrinsic interest because the perceived reason for performing the behavior has changed. However, it does increase performance.

e.g., professional athletes: if the motivation is perceived as external, then removal of the external incentive results in decreased motivation and performance

Functional autonomy of motives

originally perform behavior for extrinsic (external) reasons, but they become maintained by intrinsic (internal) reasons.

Ex. Discover you like doing something you were required to do (Community Service on Probation)

Motivational orientation

consistently being directed towards an extrinsic or intrinsic source of motivation. Both sources of motivation can operate for different activities.

e.g., studying for a grade vs experience of learning